If snowboarding is your passion, you might as well be getting paid to ride. Becoming a snowboarding instructor allows you to improve your own skills while mentoring a group of up-and-comers. While you don't have to be an expert to become a snowboard instructor, there are certain qualifications and skills you must attain before applying for the job.
Learning the Basics
Regardless of the level of snowboarding class you plan to teach, you first must master the basic maneuvering and stopping techniques. Snowboarding classes are usually categorized by a series of levels. Beginners are level 1 and start out with the most essential skills such as strapping into the board, skating to the ski lift and stopping the board. If you have trouble connecting your turns down an intermediate mountain slope, you may not be ready to enroll in the instructor program.
Training Programs
Most snowboarding mountain resorts require potential instructors to participate in a series of training classes. These classes are designed to test your board skills as well as show you the proper way to teach a group of students. According to Snowboarding Essentials, these training programs often cost a fee and are usually facilitated by level 2 and 3 instructors from the mountain's snowboarding school. The majority of these training programs will take place on the slopes as opposed to a classroom setting.
Getting Certified
To obtain a job as a snowboarding instructor, you'll need to pass a written exam. Most snowboarding schools will hold a group examination at the end of the training courses. The level 1 exam is designed by the American Association of Snowboard Instructors and will test your knowledge of technical terms and teaching practices. There's also usually a quick exam on the snow to test your fundamental skills. According to The Snow Pros, you may take additional examinations and training courses to qualify as a level 2 instructor.
Freestyle Instructor
With the inclusion of snowboarding into the Winter Olympics, the prominence of freestyle/slopestyle snowboarding has continued to grow. After completing the elementary courses, many novice snowboarders enroll in a freestyle class. To become a freestyle snowboard instructor, you'll have to master advanced techniques that involve aerial tricks and rail slides. According to the American Association of Snowboard Instructors, freestyle training courses often cover the proper etiquette of the terrain park and half-pipe riding maneuvers.
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